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Colonial Manners

Based on the Exercise of a Schoolboy*

George
Washington, sometime before the age of 16, transcribed Rules of Civility &
Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation. (Original errors in numbering have been
corrected; original spelling is unchanged.)

1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to
those that are Present.

2d When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usualy
Discovered.

3d Shew Nothing to your Freind that may affright him.

4th In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor
Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

5th If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and
Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face
and turn aside.

6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when
you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

7th Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your
Chamber half Drest.

8th At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer,
and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.

9th Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into
the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be
meat before it.

10th When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on
the other or Crossing them.

11th Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow
higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your
Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.

13th Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you
See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexteriously upon it if it be upon
the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own
Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.

14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table
or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.

15th Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet
without Shewing any great Concern for them.

16th Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or
beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.

17th Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play'd
Withal.

18th Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a
Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or
Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of
them unask'd also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.

20th The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.

21st: Reproach none for the Infirmaties of Nature, nor Delight to Put them
that have in mind thereof.

22d Shew not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your
enemy.

23d When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always
shew Pity to the Suffering Offender.

24th Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Publick Spectacle.

25th Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremonie are to be
avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.

26th In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction, as Noblemen,
Justices, Churchmen &c make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to
the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person. Amongst your equals
expect not always that they Should begin with you first, but to Pull off the Hat
when there is no need is Affectation, in the Manner of Saluting and resaluting
in words keep to the most usual Custom.

27th Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well
as not to do it to whom it's due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on
his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the
Second time of being ask'd; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in
behaviour in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting
down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.

28th If any one come to Speak to you while you are are Sitting Stand up tho
he be your Inferiour, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one
according to his Degree.

29th When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and
retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him
to Pass.

30th In walking the highest Place in most Countrys Seems to be on the right
hand therefore Place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to Honour: but
if three walk together the middest Place is the most Honourable the wall is
usually given to the most worthy if two walk together.

31st If any one far Surpassess others, either in age, Estate, or Merit yet
would give Place to a meaner than himself in his own lodging or elsewhere the
one ought not to except it, So he on the other part should not use much
earnestness nor offer it above once or twice.

32d: To one that is your equal, or not much inferior you are to give the
cheif Place in your Lodging and he to who 'tis offered ought at the first to
refuse it but at the Second to accept though not without acknowledging his own
unworthiness.

33d They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Preceedency but
whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth
or other Qualitys, though they have no Publick charge.

34th It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak before ourselves
especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

35th Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

36th Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies
to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honour them, and those
of high Degree ought to treat them with affibility & Courtesie, without
Arrogancy.

37th In Speaking to men of Quality do not lean nor Look them full in the
Face, nor approach too near them at lest Keep a full Pace from them.

38th In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physicion if you be not
Knowing therein.

39th In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to
his Degree & the Custom of the Place.

40th Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your
Judgment to others with Modesty.

41st Undertake not to Teach your equal in the art himself Proffesses; it
Savours of arrogancy.

42d Let thy ceremonies in Courtesie be proper to the Dignity of his place with
whom thou conversest for it is absurd to act the same with a Clown and a Prince.

43d Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion
will aggravate his Misery.

44th When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him
that did it.

45th Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in
publick or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it
& in reproving Shew no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and
Mildness.

46th Take all Admonitions thankfully in what Time or Place Soever given but
afterwards not being culpable take a Time & Place convenient to let him him
know it that gave them.

47th Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance break no Jest that are
Sharp Biting and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasent abstain from
Laughing there at yourself.

48th Wherein wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example
is more prevalent than Precepts.

49th Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.

50th Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.

51st Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush'd once
every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.

52d In your Apparel be Modest and endeavour to accomodate Nature, rather than
to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and
orderly with respect to Times and Places.

53d Run not in the Streets, neither go too slowly nor with Mouth open go not
Shaking yr Arms kick not the earth with yr feet, go not upon the Toes, nor in a
Dancing fashion.

54th Play not the Peacock, looking every where about you, to See if you be
well Deck't, if your Shoes fit well if your Stokings sit neatly, and Cloths
handsomely.

55th Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.

56th Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own
Reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad Company.

57th In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Company if he be
Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he
does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your
face towards him, if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by
Joul but Somewhat behind him; but yet in Such a Manner that he may easily Speak
to you.

58th Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for 'tis a Sign of a
Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to
Govern.

61st Utter not base and frivilous things amongst grave and Learn'd Men nor
very Difficult Questians or Subjects, among the Ignorant or things hard to be
believed, Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences amongst your Betters nor
Equals.

62d Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not
of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if
you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.

63d A Man ought not to value himself of his Atchievements, or rare Qualities
of wit; much less of his riches Virtue or Kindred.

64th Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor
at all without Occasion, deride no mans Misfortune, tho' there Seem to be Some
cause.

74th When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience
if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired,
Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speech be ended.

75th In the midst of Discourse ask not of what one treateth but if you
Perceive any Stop because of your coming you may well intreat him gently to
Proceed: If a Person of Quality comes in while your Conversing it's handsome to
Repeat what was said before.

76th While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you
Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

77th Treat with men at fit Times about Business & Whisper not in the
Company of Others.

78th Make no Comparisons and if any of the Company be Commended for any brave
act of Vertue, commend not another for the Same.

79th Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof. In
Discoursing of things you Have heard Name not your Author always A Secret
Discover not.

80th Be not Tedious in Discourse or in reading unless you find the Company
pleased therewith.

81st Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that
Speak in Private.

82d undertake not what you cannot perform but be carefull to keep your
promise.

83d when you deliver a matter do it without passion & with discretion,
however mean the person be you do it too.